Makoni urges opposition to reconcile

Makoni said: “The more splinters that the opposition has, the easier it is to break. There is urgent need to address the big man syndrome within our politics and try and reconnect and reconcile for the interest of democracy.”

“There may be differences but the solution is not to break away and separate ways,” said Makoni. “The MDC challenges are not entrenched beyond reconciliation.”

He said the ongoing problems within the MDC were not unique to that party as other parties have in the past faced the same problems.

“There were divisions which saw the formation of Zanu (PF). Maybe the opposition parties can take this time as an opportunity to re-organise and strategise on how they can come up with a united front without anyone feeling superior,” said Makoni.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, expelled some of the party’s top lieutenants including the party’s Secretary General, Tendai Biti for orchestrating a plot to topple him as the party President.

Last week, efforts to recall the MDC renewal team hit a snag following the Speaker of Parliament’s stance urging the two formations to seek recourse within the courts.

Jacob Mudenda told the two formations that their communication, one sent by Biti and the other by the party’s Deputy President, Thokozani Khupe contained no legal issues which required his intervention.

Said Mudenda in his response: “The communication does not require the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the National Assembly to determine or rule on whether or not to act pursuant to the provisions of Section 129 (1) (K) of the Constitution.”

“In any case, neither the President of the Senate nor the Speaker has any authority and role to play in the internal disciplinary actions, disputes or differences within political parties, which matters may be appropriately dealt with by a competent court.”

Makoni said an all inclusive coalition that included Tsvangirai would solve the country’s social, economic and political challenges.

“There is room for everyone. The grand coalition that I am referring to should involve everyone. Politicians alone do not have the solution to the country’s challenges,” said Makoni.

He dismissed as retrogressive Welshman Ncube’s perspective of a coalition that excluded other leaders.

“I do not buy the Welsh perspective which is saying exclude Tsvangirai. I am about uniting and not dividing and I want an all inclusive union,” he said. “No one individual has the capacity to solve the myriad of challenges that we face as a country.”

Makoni revealed that he had engaged both leaders on the way forward, but would not disclose the outcome of those meetings with Tsvangirai and Biti.